Prepayment mechanism.



PATENTED AUG. 13, 1907.

E. SGHATTNER.

PREPAYMENT MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24, 1906.

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PATENTED AUG. 13, 1907. E. SGHATTNER. PREPAYMBNT MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24, 1905.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST SCHATTNER, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRICCOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PREPAYMENT ME OHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1907.

Application filed August 24, 1905. Serial No. 275,568.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST SCHATTNER, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in PrepaymentMechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to prepayment mechanisms particularlyadapted for the control of electric circuits.

In carrying out my invention, I have arranged a movable contact devicewhich is connected to an operating member by a spring or other elasticmeans. The contact device is moved by the elastic means connecting it toits operating member into engagement with a second contact device ormember by a coin inserted in the mechanism. The engagement of the twocontact devices serves to close an electrical circuit. While the twocontact devices are in engagement a relative movement between the firstcontact device and its operating member occurs which puts the elasticconnecting means under tension sufficient after the engagement betweenthe contact device is broken to move the first-mentioned contact devicefirst into an inoperative position and other coins inserted in theapparatuscause the operation described to be repeated.

The engagement between the two contact devices is broken by reason ofrelative movement between them which may be produced in any suitablemanner dependent on the nature of the organization of which they form apart. In the construction which I have hereinafter illustrated anddescribed in detail this relative movement is produced by the flow ofcurrent through the circuit controlled by said contact devices. Therelative movement may, however, be produced in other ways.

The mechanism described above insures a quick making and breaking of theengagement between the two contact devices and consequently of thecircuit controlled by them. Moreover, the novel mechanism which I havedevised for the purpose is simple and reliable, and is such as torequire a very small amount of power to accomplish the operationdescribed.

In order to avoid the necessity for inserting a coin in the apparatuswhenever electricity of the amount purchased by the insertion of asingle coin is consumed, I have provided means whereby a plurality ofcoins may be inserted in the apparatus at one time and have arranged acoin feeding mechanism for antomatically causing the coins to operatethe contact device when necessary until the electricity consumed equalsin value the value of all the previously inserted coins.

The various features of novelty which characterize my invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this specification. For a better understanding of my invention,however, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings anddescription in which I have illustrated and described one of the formsin which my invention may be embodied.

Of the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation with parts broken away and insection showing my invention employed in conjunction with a motor meterto control the consumption of energy in an electric circuit; Fig. 2 isan elevation, and Fig. 3 is a plan illustrating details of constructionof the coin introducing mechanism, Fig. 4 is a viewv taken similarly toFig. 1 showing a modified construction; Fig. 5 is a view partially insectional elevation and partially in diagram showing the circuitarrangement employed; Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a portion ofthe mechanism of Figs. 1 and 4; Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation takensimilarly to Fig. 5 showing the mechanism in a different position; Fig.8 is an elevation showing a portion of the modified construction; andFig. 9 is a section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 8..

In the drawings, 1 represents the shaft of a motor meter of the wellknown Thomson recording wattmeter type. The upper end of this shaftcarries a worm 2 which meshes with one of the wheels of the ordinarycounting train 3 employed in meters of this character. A shaft 4 isjournaled in plates 5 which may be either parts of the frame-work 5 usedfor supporting the ordinary counting frame or be secured thereto. Theshaft 4 has rigidly secured to it a gear wheel 6 which meshes with oneof the wheels of the train 3. A contact device in the form of a metaldisk 7 secured to the shaft 4 but insulated therefrom by a bushing 8 ofinsulating material is provided with a number of metal pins 9 whichproject from one side of the disk and are equally spaced about the shaft4. A contact brush 11 fixed at one end to the frame work of the meter,bears yieldingly against the hub 12 of the disk 7.

The shaft 4 has secured to it a gear wheel 12. The gear wheel 12 mesheswith a gear wheel 13 rigidly secured to the shaft 14 which may also bemounted in the supports 5. A collar 15 is rigidly secured to the shaft14 but is insulated therefrom by a bushing 16 of insulating material. Ona portion 17 of this collar is loosely mounted a contact member 18provided with an extending arm 19. A spiral spring 20 has its inner endsecured to the collar 15 and its outer end secured to the arm 19. Acontact spring or brush 21, similar to the contact ring or brush 11,having one end secured to a fixed support on the frame-work of themeter, bears against a reduced portion 22 of the collar 15.

Referring particularly to Fig. 5, 24 and 25 represent conductors whichsupply electric energy from a suitable source. The conductor 25 isconnected to the brush 21. A conductor 26 connects the brush 11 to oneterminal of the main field coil or winding 27 of the meter. The otherterminal of the field coils 27 is 0011- nected by a conductor 28 to theconductor 25. A conductor 29 connects the conductor 24 to one of thebrushes 30 engaging the commutator 31 connected to the armature 32carried by the shaft 1. The conductor 29 may include a suitableregulating resistance 33. The other brush 34 engaging the commutator 31is connected to the conductor 26 by a conductor 35. The conductor 35 mayinclude the winding of the auxiliary field coil or starting coil 36 ofthe meter.

In the position of the parts shown in Figs. 5 and 6 in which the arm 19engages one of the pins 9, the brushes 11 and 21 are electricallyconnected through the collar 15, collar 18, arm 19, pins 9, disk '7, andhub 12, and when so connected suitable electrical energy is supplied tothe translating devices 38 by the conductors 24 and 25, and the energyconsumption is measured by the revolutions of the armature shaft 1 inthe usual manner. In order to make good electrical connections the underside of the tips of the brushes 11 and 21 and the upper side of the arm19, thepins 9, the hub 12 and the collar 15, may be formed of or platedwith some good conducting metal such as silver.

The revolutions of the armature shaft 1 through the gearing 3 cause thegear wheels 13 and 12 to revolve in the direction indicated by thearrows shown in Fig. 6. Upon a sufiicient relative movement between theWheels 12 and 13 the member 19 will be released by the pin 9 with whichit is shown in engagement and will be moved by the spring 20 into theposition shown in Fig. 7, where its outer end is shown in engagementwith a coin-controlled stop or lock in the form of a projection 40carried by the lower end of the short arm 41 of a bell-crank 42 pivotedto a projection 43 from one of the supports 5. A spring 44 normallyholds the projection 40 in a position in which it prevents furtherangular movement of the arm 19. When, however, the outer end of the longarm of the bell-crank lever 42 is depressed by the impingement againstit of a suitable coin, the arm 19 moves into engagement with the pin 9immediately to the right (having reference to the direction of rotationof the shaft 4) of the pin previously engaged, thus again establishingelectrical circuit between the brushes 11 and 21 which had been brokenby the preceding disengagement between the arm 19 and the pin 9.

It will, of course, be understood that the angular movement of the pin 9between the instant at which it is first engaged by the arm 19- and themoment of disengagement corresponds to the revolutions of the armatureshaft sufiicient to measure the consumption of the energy purchased bythe insertion of a coin. It will also be understood that the teeth onthe gears 12 and 13 are so proportioned that the shaft 14 makes onecomplete revolution while the arm 19 is in engagement with one of thepins 9.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings, themovable contact device 7 is replaced by a stationary contact device 7which may be permanently connected to one terminal of the conductor 26.A spur gear 45 is carried by and insulated from the shaft 14. The teethof the gear 45 mesh with gear teeth 46 formed at one side of a slot 47in a contact member 18 corresponding in function to the contact member18 of the construction described above. Guide pieces 48 secured to sidesof the member 18 and engaging cylindrical extensions 49 from the spurgear 45 serve to properly position the member 18 with the teeth of thespur gear 45 meshing with the teeth 46. It will be observed that themember 18 is insulated from the shaft 14. A helical spring 20 similar tothe spring 20 has one end secured to the member 18 at the point 50. Theother end of the spring is secured to one of the extensions 49. Thespring or brush 21 bears against the other extension 49.

In the position of the apparatus shown in Fig. 9 the arm 18 has justbeen released by the coin-controlled lock which may be identical inconstruction with that of the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6, andhas been moved into engagement with the contact device 7 under theaction of the spring 20. As the shaft 14 rotates under the action of themeter the spring 20 Will be put under tension and the arm 18 will bemoved to the right by reason of the engagement between the teeth of thegear 45 and the teeth46. The movement of the member 18 I to the right iscontinued until the member reaches the dotted line position when it isno longer retained by the contact device 7 and will turn about the shaft14 under the action of the spring 20 until it engages thecoin-controlled stop. When it is again released from the coin-controlledstop it will again move into engagement with the contact device 7. Therotation of the member 18 about the shaft 14 in the manner describedwill, by reason of the engagement-between the teeth of the spur gear andthe teeth vof the member, cause the member to be moved again into theposition shown in full lines in Fig. 9.

With the mechanism constructed and operated as hereinbefore describedany suitable means may be employed for introducing a coin from withoutthe casing and discharging it against the end of the long arm of thebell-crank lever 42. In order to render the apparatus capable ofreceiving and properly disposing of a plurality of coins which may beinserted at one time, however, I have devised a novel and effective coinintroducing mechanism which automatically discharges against the lever42, one at a time as needed, each of a plurality of coins which may havebeen inserted in the apparatus at one time. In carrying out this featureof my invention I mount upon the back support 51 of the meter a solenoidcoil 52. As shown, the solenoid coil is I passed through a hole formedto receive it in the support 51 and is secured firmly in place in thishole by means of a yoke member 53. To the front end member of the coil52 is secured a box-like member 54. The sides of the box-like member 54may be formed of metal, the bottom wall 55, however, is preferablyformed of insulating material. A pair of contact plates 56 are securedto the bottom wall 55 by means of screws 57. As shown, the contactplates 56 are placed with edges to each other and the axis of the coil52. The plates are inclined to each other so that their upper edges areseparated by a distance greater than that separating their lower edges.A block 58 of insulating material is formed with slots or grooves 59 inits under side, which receive the contacts 56, upon which the block isslidingly mounted. The block 58 has secured to its rear end a core 60 ofmagnetic material which is arranged to be stroked axially into the boreof the solenoid 52 when the latter is energized. A bolt 61 passingthrough a hole formed for the purpose in the front wall of the member 54is tapped into the front end of the block 58. A helical spring 62surrounding the bolt 61 and extending between its head and the wall ofthe member 54 normally holds the block in the position shown in Fig. 1.A coin chute 63 which may be supported from the easing 63 of the meterhas its lower discharge end terminat ing immediately above a slot 64formed in the block 58 when the latter is in the position shown in thedrawings. The slot 64 extends transversely to the direction of thecontacts 56. A suitable coin 64 inserted in the slot 64 rests againstthe contact plates 56. When the block is moved to the right from theposition shown in Fig. 1 until it engages the rear wall of the member54, a coin which may have been located in the slot 64 is dischargedthrough a slot 65 formed for the purpose in the bottom wall 55. The cointhus discharged drops on the end of the long arm of the lever 42 andoperates'the mechanism in a manner hereinbefore described.

As shown spring contact members or extensions 56 are secured to eachcontact member 56. A metallic plate 66 secured to the block 58 serves asa means for connecting the contact extensions 56 when the block ispulled against the back wall of the member 54.

Referring to Fig. 5, it will be observed that one of the contact members56 is connected to the line 29 through solenoid 52 and a suitableresistance 67. The other contact 56 is connected to the bracket 43 andthereby to the lever 42 by a conductor 67. Assuming that a coin has beeninserted in the slot in the block 58 when the latter is in the positionshown in Figs. 1 and 5, and ,the arm 19 then or thereafter engages theprojection 40 in the manner hereinbefore described. Current will thenflow between the lines 24 and 25 through the conductor 29, resistances67, solenoid 52, contacts 56 and the bridging coin, conductor 67,bracket 48, lever 42, arm 19 and brush 21. The passage of this currentwill cause the solenoid 52 to become operatively energized whereupon theblock 58 will be moved to the right from the position shown in Fig. 1until the coin passes off of the contacts 56 and drops through the slot65. Before the coin passes beyond the ends of the contacts 56 the springextensions 56 are engaged by the metallic plate 66 so that the dischargeof the coin does not directly open the circuit through the winding ofthe solenoid 52. As soon as the coin discharged tilts the lever 42 andreleases the arm 19 the circuit through the coil is broken by thedisengagement of the arm 19 and projection 40 whereupon the block 58 isreturned to the position shown in the drawings by the action of thespring 52. The chute is arranged to hold as many coins as it is desiredor convenient to have inserted in the apparatus at one time. The block58 is deep enough, however, to receive only one coin at a time. When theblock is moved against the rear p of the block prevents any coins whichmay be located in the chute from downward movement. As soon as the blockis returned to its initial position after discharging a coin, however,if the chute contains a coin or a plurality of coins, the coin or thelower coin of the plurality of coins will drop into the slots 64. Afterthe proper energy consumption, the meter again causes the arm 19 toengage the projection 40 and thus causes current to be supplied to thecircuit containing the contacts 56 and the winding of the magnet 52 forcausing the coin, if any, in the carrier to set in operation thecoin-controlled means for closing the consumption circuit in the mannerhereinbefore described. This operation will be repeated whenevernecessary provided the necessary coins are deposited from time to timein the carrier.

While with the mechanism described the consumers circuit is interruptedafter the consumption of each- .When for any reason it is thought to beundesirable or unnecessary to employ mechanism such as that justdescribed for automatically discharging coins against the long arm ofthe bell-crank lever as before stated any suitable means may be employedfor introducing coins; for instance, the chute 63 may be arranged toconvey coins from without the casing directly against the end of thelover or the bolt 61 may be provided with an extension 68 projectingthrough the front wall of the casing 63 as shown in Fig. 4. Thisextension forms an operating handle by means of which the coin carriermay be manually reciprocated. In some cases it may be desirable, asshown in Fig. 4, to detachably connect the handle 68 to the mechanismshown in Fig. 1. In this case the carrier may be reciprocated eithermanually or automatically. When no provisions for automaticallyreciprocating the coin carrier is desired it will of course beunderstood that the box 54 may be supported directly from the meterframe portion 55 in any suitable manner without the use of the solenoidcoil.

While the mechanism described above is simple, efficient and reliable,it will be readily understood by all those skilled in the art that manychanges may be made in the form of the invention disclosed withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention, and that certain features ofmy invention may sometimes be advantageously employed without acorresponding use of other features of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is,

1. In combination, a movable coin-carrier, electromagnetic means formoving the carrier when energized, a circuit for energizing saidelectromagnetic means, a pair of separated contacts in the circuit forenergizing said electromagnetic means connected through a coin in saidcarrier when the carrier is in one position and contains a coin, and anauxiliary device controlled by the carrier for connecting said contactswhen the carrier is in another powall of the box 54 by the energizationof the coil 52 the 1 sition.

2. In combination, a coin-carrier, an electromagnetic means which whenenergized moves said carrier from a coin-receiving to a coin-dischargingposition, a pair of separated contacts in the energizing circuit of saidelectromagnetic means connected by a coin in said carrier when thelatter is in the coin-receiving position and contains a coin,andseparate means for connecting said contacts when the coin-carrier isin another position.

3. In combination, a coin-carrier, electromagnetic means which whenenergized moves said carrier from a coinre ceiving to a coin-dischargingposition, a pairof separated contacts in the energizing circuit of saidelectromagnetic means connected by the coin in said carrier when thelatter is in the coin-receiving position and contains a coin, separatemeans for connecting said contacts when the coin-carrier is in anotherposition, a consumption circuit, means dependent upon the movement ofsaid carrier for closing said circuit, a meter in said consumptioncircuit, and means controlled by it for supplying current to saidenergizing circuit.

4. In combination, an electric consumption circuit, a meter, inoperative relation thereto, coin-controlled means for closing saidcircuit, means controlled by the meter for opening the circuit after apredetermined consumption subsequent to the closure of the circuit,means for receiving one or more inserted coins, and means dependent uponthe presence of one or more coins in said receiving means forautomatically bringing a coin into operative relation with saidcoin-controlled means to cause said circuit to be closed whenever themeter may open the circuit.

5. In combination, an electric consumption circuit, a meter formeasuring the consumption in said circuit and for opening said circuitafter a predetermined consumption therein, a chute, a coin-carrier,means for causing said carrier to move into position in which a coin insaid chute will pass into said carrier, contacts electrically con nectedby a coin in said carrier, electromagnetic means which when energizedmoves said carrier to bring about a closure of said circuit, and meanscontrolled by the meter and the presence of the coin in said carrier forautomatic ally energizing said electromagnetic means when energypurchased by the insertion of previous coins has been consumed.

G. In an electric prepayment mechanism, a consumption cir uit, anauxiliary circuit including an electromagnetic device, a switch memberfor alternately opening one circuit and closing the other, saidauxiliary circuit including a pair of separated contacts adapted to beconnected together by an inserted coin, and means controlled by theelectromagnetic device for causing the switch member to close theconsumption circuit whenever open and the contacts are bridged by acoin.

7. In an electric prepayment mechanism, a pair of contacts bridged by aninserted coin, a consumption circuit, coin-controlled means for closingsaid circuit, a meter and means controlled by the meter for opening thecircuit when energy to the value of the previously inserted coins hasbeen consumed, and automatic means rendered operative when said contactsare connected by a coin for causing said coin to operate saidcoin-controlled means whenever said consumption circuit is open.

8. In an electric prepayment mechanism, a coin-carrier, a consumptioncircuit, means controlled by the discharge of a coin through saidcarrier to close said circuit, a meter, means controlled by the meterfor opening said circuit when energy purchased by previously dischargedcoins has been consumed, and means for automatically causing acoincontained in said carrier to be discharged whenever the consumptioncircuit is opened.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 10th day of August,1905.

ERNEST SCIIATTNER.

Witnesses EDWARD WILLIAMS, J12, BENJAMIN B. HULL.

